UTAH - Walking with Dinosaurs...

From: £1935

Sculptured by wind, water and time, the state of Utah boasts the most complete record of fossil life of anywhere on earth. Each year a staggering 20 species are discovered in the western part of Utah. Whether you are seeking state-of-the-art museums interpreting this real life "Jurassic Park", looking for dinosaur excavating viewing opportunities in remote quarries or want the chance to walk in dinosaur tracks.....you'll find it all on this leisurely fly-drive through some of the most astonishing scenery in the USA.

Price Per Person Includes:

Flights from the UK to Salt Lake City, Utah and home from Las Vegas, Nevada

Mid-size SUV

13 nights B&B, Inn or Lodge accomodation in sought-after locations

A personalised road book with North America travel tips and a day to day driving itinerary with local area information.

Prices are based on off-season travel. Please call or email for costs for your preferred date of travel. Other durations are available. Drop-off fee to pay locally on the car hire.

Days 1 - 2 : Salt Lake City, Utah

Your journey begins in Salt Lake City, a modern friendly place surrounded by lakes and snow-capped mountains. During your time here head for the Natural History Museum of Utah which showcases the State's natural wonders, or check out the George S Eccles Dinosaur Park in nearby Ogden. You'll love strolling around Temple Square in the beautiful downtown district of Salt Lake City, here you can visit the many historical sights, exquisite gardens and the largest genealogy library of its kind in the world.

Within the Great Salt Lake (the largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere) is Antelope Island. This island is teeming with free-ranging bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and many other desert animals. Consider spending time here strolling along the sandy beaches or dipping your toes in the in the lake's salty waters. For a step back in time, visit the Historic Fielding Garr Ranch on the island.

Days 3 - 4 : Vernal, Utah

Distance: 170 miles

On route to Vernal visit the North American Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point, or for the true dinosaur specialists amongst you a trip to the Brigham Young University Museum of Palaeontology at Provo is a must do, this is world renowned for its collection of late Jurassic and early Cretaceous dinosaurs.

During your time in Vernal visit the Dinosaur National Monument, the only place in the world you can view and touch over 1,500 dinosaur bones embedded and partially exposed in the mountain at the Quarry Visitors Centre. Here you can also take a hike along the Fossil Discovery Trail, enjoy the views of Green River, Split Mountain and the fascinating Petroglyphs. The Utah Field House of Natural History in Vernal is home to a 90 foot replica of a Diplodocus that was found in the region. You'll love the hands on exhibits, fossil digs and dinosaur garden here too.

Days 5 - 7 : Moab, Utah

Distance: 221 miles

Today, on route to your three night stay in Moab, consider stopping at the Prehistoric Museum in Price which displays eight complete skeletons plus dinosaur eggs. A detour of 30 miles will take you into remote countryside and the Cleveland Dinosaur Quarry, the world's greatest concentration of Jurassic dinosaur bones have been uncovered here. A less challenging choice would be the John Wesley Powell River Museum in Green River which highlights the exploits of this one-armed Civil War veteran.Moab is your base from which to explore some of the most dramatic scenery in the whole of the USA. Spend time in Arches & Canyonlands National Parks, and the lesser known but equally jaw-dropping Dead Horse State Park. Dinosaur attractions here include Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail, Copper Ridge Dinosaur Trackway and Moab Giants Dinosaur Museum. Fancy a hike or mountain biking? Check out the Dinosaur Stomping Grounds Trail and the Poison Spider and Willow Springs dinosaur tracks.

Day 8 : Blanding, Utah

Distance: 75 miles

It's a short journey today through impressive Utah scenery to the Blanding Dinosaur Museum. Blanding and nearby Bluff are at the heart of an area with an incredible record of earlier human life as well as dinosaur remains. Hovenweep National Monument is a series of villages indicating 10,000 years of human settlement. Nearby Natural Bridges National Monument is not only home to three of the largest rock arches in the world, it is also the world's first Dark Sky Park and offers stargazing programmes during the summer months

Day 9 : Monument Valley, Utah/Arizona

Distance: 73 miles

You'll pass through Goosenecks State Park today before you enter Monument Valley.

Monument Valley is an area of monolithic sandstone rock formations that rise majestically from the desert floor. With some towering 1,000 feet from the desert floor, they create a truly magical desert landscape. Whether or not you are aware of it, you have very likely already seen Monument Valley in countless Western movies and television programmes. It is claimed by some to be legendary Hollywood director John Ford’s favourite movie backdrop. Bon Voyage can pre-book jeep tours of the valley floor with local Navajo guides to make the most of your time in this truly special place.

Day 10 : Lake Powell, Arizona

Distance: 124 miles

Your journey from Monument Valley to Lake Powell today will take you via the turn offs to both the north and the south rim of the Grand Canyon. If you wish to include an overnight stay at this world-famous national park Bon Voyage will be pleased to include this in your holiday quote.

Your stay tonight will be at Lake Powell. Straddling the Arizona/Utah border, Lake Powell has 1,960 miles of shoreline - more than the whole west coast of America! This vast body of deep blue water contained within red-orange cliff walls and the wild beauty of Glen Canyon is a man-made reservoir, resulting from the building of the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. Here you can relax on the beaches, take a boat trip on the lake or visit nearby Antelope Canyon, one of the most photographed Slot Canyons in the USA. Bon Voyage would be happy to pre-book the latter two activities for you.

Days 11 - 13 : Zion National Park, Utah

Distance: 85 miles

You'll want to stop at Big Water, Utah today to visit the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Since 2000, numerous dinosaur fossils over 75 million years old have been found at Grand Staircase-Escalante The National Monument's Interpretive Centre here was built in the form of an ammonite fossil and is packed with fascinating exhibits and some of the most knowledge volunteer staff you'll ever encounter!

Your southern Utah base for the next three nights is awesome Zion National Park.This is Utah's oldest and most popular national park. Known for its slot canyons, its soaring towers and monoliths, rivers and waterfalls, and its spectacular views. Spend time here exploring the canyons, visiting the emerald pools or hiking The Narrows. You may also want to consider a day trip from here to Bryce National Park.

Close to Zion National Park is the town of St George - your final dinosaur treat awaits you here at the Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson's Farm which is home to 2,000 of the oldest, best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world!

Day 14 : Depart from Las Vegas, Nevada

Distance: 155 miles

It's a relatively short drive today to your early evening flight home from Las Vegas.

Want to extend your holiday? Maybe longer in Salt Lake City? More time in Moab and the Canyonlands area?

All Bon Voyage holidays are tailor-made, call the team of USA experts to discuss your ideal trip.

Amanda always helps to make your travel dreams come true and this time Amanda went above and beyond to ensure our travel plans fitted in with what we wanted and for the price we could afford. It allow me and my family to include a Disney cruise at the end of our holiday, amazing !! The countdown to the holiday is now on .